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HBRANDBN-BURG.

(No model.)

BLEGTRIG RAILWAY.

Patented Aug. 4, 1896. Fia, 2.

(N o Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet '2;

H. BRANDENBURG.

ELBGTRIG RAILWAY.

No. 565,102. Patented Aug, 4, -18-96'.

3 u .1w jJbv W www fk M Q -09W f .0 MPV/ E d Jia m, m, E .7m M @w nnss no. PHOYM T UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

HENRY BRANDENBURG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES AUSTIN BATES.

ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

SPECIFICATION'forming part of Letters Patent No. 565,102, dated August 4, 1896.

Application iiled May 16, 1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY BRANDENBURG, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State oi' Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Railways; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying draivings, forming a part of this specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in electric railways, the improvements being such as are more particularly applicable to underground conduits, although, as Will be similar to Figs. l and Zot a slightly-modifled torni of conduit and trolley-conductor. Fig. 5 is a detail top plan view of one-half of a trolleyrame.

Like letters of reference in the several iigures indicate the same parts.

The base A of the conduit is preferably rolled or formed with a dat bottoni surface to rest on the ties and upwardly-extending Webs A, forming the sides of the conduit. The Webs A are preferably integral with the bottom and serve to support the entire superstructure, including one of the rails for the wheels of the vehicle, if so desired. Vhere it is desired to form theconduit and Wheelrail together, I prefer to form .the angle-iron B, constituting one of the slot-rails, with a Wheel-seat and flange B', and to connect the downwardly-extending Web B2 of the slot-rail to the web A by bolts or otherwise.

To resist the downward pressure on the angle-iron, I form a seat B3 for the edge of the web A. This slot-rail would ordinarily be Serial No. 549,575. (No model.)

permanently secured in place, and to provide 'for removing one of the slot-rails Without the necessity of removing or breaking the surrounding paving I form at the top of the opposite web A' a horizontal seat with a vertically-arranged fastening device for securing the slot-rail in place. To simplify the construction of the conduit, I prefer to form this seat in a cheek-piece or supplemental web I), securely bolted to the web A. This cheekpiece is formed with the flator substantially horizontal and relatively Wide seat D at the top and with an upwardly-extending lip or flange D2, forming a groove extending longitudinally of the conduit for the reception of the reduced edge F.' of the slot-rail E. The two parts are secured by bolts F, preferably arran ged vertically to facilitate removal Without breaking the paving, as before stated.

The idea of bracing the removable slot-rail against being forced down at the edge of the slot, by securing its rear edge in a groove running the entire length of the conduit, it is obvious, may be carried out in connection with an angle-iron slot-rail, and in Figs. 3 and 4 such an arrangement is shown, the cheekpiece G inthis instance being seated in the angle of the slot-rail G' and the groove being formedon the outside of the cheek-piece by the edge of the web A. The slot-rails on both sides in this form are shown as secured to cheek-pieces, the right-hand slotrail II being attached to a cheek-piece II', similar in crosssectional shape to the Cheekpicce G. Thus the Webs A may be made narrow and the cheek-pieces may be all rolled or formed alike and simply reversed for opposite sides of the conduit.

To the Walls of the conduit I secure metallic insulator-brackets K, having horizontal rings or sockets II' at the ends for the insulator-Shanks. These brackets in the preferred construction (see Fig. l) are covered With porcelain Zt, which of itself constitutes a complete insulating-covering; but to absolutely guard against leakage of the current, through defective insulation or the accumulation of dirt, I mount in each of the rings or sockets K a vitreous insulator L, having a downwardly-extending shank L', fitting in the ring or socket, and a top anvil or seat L2 for sup- IDO porting the trolley-conductor M. The latter is relatively wide in cross-section and is provided at each side with depending ianges M for embracing the insulator either directly, as in Figs. 3 and 4, or for embracing projections N on a cap N', which does embrace the anvil, as in Figs. l and 2. In every instance it is preferable to have the flanges M' extend the full length of the conductor, allowing for expansion or contraction and overcoming any difficulties incident to the location of the inn sulators longitudinally of the conduit.

The upper surface of the conductors are formed into longitudinal ways for the trolley, preferably as shown in Fig. l, by forming V- shaped grooves O therein, terminating'in a well or slot o at the bottom for holding oil and for insuring a proper Wearing of the conductor to a central point, although it is obvious that a rib such as P, Fig. 3, may be employed, or if the trolley be suitably guided the conductor may be flat, as shown at Il in said figure, without departing from the invention.

The trolley which I employ in this structure for collecting the current consists of a suitable frame Q with electrical connections extending therefrom through the slot and laterally-extending arms Q', having housings or inclo'sing frames Q2, surrounding loose contact-blocks R, which rest on the conductors. These contact-blocks being loose and there being preferably two of them (see Fig. 5) for each side, a perfect electrical connection is insured without creating appreciable friction and at the same time presenting a good wearing-body, which may be renewed instantly and at very slight cost. Y

The whole structure is simple, cheaply manufactured, and capable of being cheaply laid for practical work.

It will be understood when I have used or shall use in the claims the term porcelain insulator that I mean any vitreous insulator of a like nature, the term porcelain being used as a matter of convenience only.

I am aware that brackets vfor supporting conductors in a closed conduit have been heretofore covered with insulating compound,'and I do not claim such construction broadly.

Having thus described myinvention, what I claim as new isl. In an electric railway, the combination with the conduit having the continuous upwardly-extending side with a longitudinal groove therein outside of the conduit-chamber, of the slot-rail overlying the side of the conduit having its rear edge connedin said groove and fastening devices for retaining said slot-rail in place; substantially as described.

2. In an electric railway, the combination with the conduit havin g the upwardly-extending side with a longitudinal groove therein outside of the conduit-chamber and a bearing at the inner edge of the side, of the slotrail overlying the side of the conduit seated on Said bearing and having its rear edge reduced and confined in said groove whereby the tilting of the slot-rail is prevented, and fastenings for the slot-rail; substantially as de scribed.

3. In an electric railway, the combination with the conduit having the upwardly-extending side terminating in a substantially horizontal bearing and having a groove or recess outside of said bearing and outside of the conduit-chamber, of the substantially flat slot-rail overlying the side of the conduitand resting on said bearing and having its rear edge confined in said groove and fastening devices for the slot-rail; substantially as described.

4. In an electric railway, the combination with the conduit having the upwardly-eX- tending side terminating in a relatively wide substantially horizontal bearing with an nndercut or groove at the outer edge of the same above the level of the flat bearing, of a substantially lat slot-rail having the rear edge reduced and seated in said undercut or groove and vertically-arranged fastenings passing through the slot-rail into the bean ing; substantially as described.

5. In an electric railway, the combination with the conduit having the upwardlyeextending web, and the cheek-piece rigidly secured to said web and having the bearing for the slot-rail and a longitudinal groove or undercut, of the slot-rail having the rear edge seated in said groove or undercut and fastening devices uniting the cheek-piece and slot-rail; substantially as described.

6. In an electric railway, the combination with the conduit having the upwardlyex tending web and the cheek-piece rigidly secured to said web and having the substantially horizontal bearing with the groove or undercut at the outer edge of the same, of the substantially flat slot-rail having its rear edge seated in the groove or undercut and vertically-arranged bolts passing through the slot-rail and into the cheek-piece; substantially as described.

7. In an electric railway, the combination with the conduit, of the metallic brackets mounted in said conduit and having the rings at the ends, the insulators having the en larged top and reduced Shanks seating in said rings and the trolley-conductors mounted on the insulators above the bracket, substantially as described.

8. In an electric railway the combination with the conduit and the supports for the conductor having upwardly-extending projections on each side of the center line, of the continuous conductor having longitudinal grooves at each side of the center into which said projections enter, the outer walls of said grooves forming downwardly-extending flanges to prevent the passage of moisture beneath the conductor; substantially as described.

9. In an electric railway, the combination with the conduit, of the trolley-conductor IIO the insulator having the Central enlargement and upwardly-extending anvil and the cap iitting said anvil and cooperating with the conductor to hold the same in place and the supporting-bracket embracing the insulator belowr the enlargement; substantially as described.

HENRY BRANDENBURG.

Titnesses c ALEX. S. STE'UART, A. M. KELLY. 

